‘What else they need to do to play for India?’ – Harbhajan Singh slams selectors for ignoring 2 domestic stars

On November 9, Indian selectors picked India’s 16-man squad for a home series against New Zealand.  The news immediately made the headlines. But the masses don’t really know that they also named a 14-man India-A squad for an upcoming tour of Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Regardless, Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh, has noticed it. And ‘The Turbunator’ doesn’t seem too pleased as two proven domestic stars aren’t a part of the announced squad.

Harbhajan Singh tweets in support of Mandeep Singh, Sheldon Jackson

Both Sheldon Jackson and Mandeep have been performing in the domestic circuit for several years now. While Jackson has 19 first-class centuries to his name and averages 49.42 from 76 matches, the latter has a high-score of 235 runs and has 5316 first-class runs to go with 41 fifty-plus scores.

Sheldon Jackson especially has been on an absolute roll as of late. The 35-year-old right-hander plies his trade for Saurashtra and has crossed 800 runs in each of the last two Ranji seasons. Pointing the same out, here’s what Bhajji has tweeted, “Ranji season 2018/19 scored 854 and 2019/2020 scored 809 and also Ranji champion that year plus this year current form yet not getting picked even for India A team. Can ??selector tell him what else he need to do to ply for India apart from scoring runs #shame @ShelJackson27.”

Harbhajan has also lambasted BCCI for ignoring Punjab’s Mandeep Singh. Mandeep won IPL Emerging Player Award back in 2012 and was a part of India-A on a regular basis. However, he’s also faced omission this time around. Mandeep is Bhajji’s teammate at Punjab and was riding a purple patch in recent times. During the 2019/20 Ranji Trophy, Mandeep Singh scored 555 runs at an unreal average in excess of 138.

Harbhajan believes Mandeep hasn’t been rewarded for his brilliance, and rightly so. He’s furious at the devaluation of performances in domestic tournaments. Bhajji feels that if domestic performances don’t count, tourneys like Ranji Trophy should be scrapped.

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“Another top player not getting his dues @mandeeps12 forget team India not even in India A. Selectors need to see some domestic matches records or else what’s th point having Ranji seasons. check his stats last domestic season played. due to corona no cricket in 20/21 #shocking,” reads Harbhajan’s second tweet, which questions Mandeep’s snub.